OCEA - Ocean Sciences

OCEA1 The Oceans

An interdisciplinary introduction to oceanography focusing on biological, chemical, geological, and physical processes. Covers topics such as origins and structure of planet Earth and its oceans, co-evolution of Earth and life, plate tectonics, liquid water and the hydrologic and hydrothermal cycles, salinity and elemental cycles, ocean circulation, primary production and nutrient cycles, plankton and nekton, life on the sea floor, near shore and estuarine communities, future environmental problems our oceans face. Students may also enroll in and receive credit for Earth Sciences 1.

Credits

5

OCEA80A Life in the Sea

The ecology of plants and animals in oceans and coastal areas. Consideration of life in various marine habitats, including the open ocean, rocky shores, estuaries, and the sea. Includes field trips. High school biology and chemistry courses are recommended prior to taking this course.

Credits

5

OCEA80B Our Changing Planet

Interdisciplinary scientific perspective on Earth system, focusing on human impacts on global environment. Introduces concepts of Earth system science and explores topics such as global warming, ozone depletion, pollution, deforestation, and future climate change. Prerequisite(s): high school chemistry course recommended.

Credits

5

OCEA90 Fundamentals of Climate

Quantitative introduction to climate comprising five modules: atmosphere-ocean circulation, atmospheric teleconnections, El-Nino Southern Oscillation, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and global warming. Hands-on statistical methods are applied to real-world observations to develop a quantitative understanding of climate.

Credits

5

OCEA100 Physical Oceanography

Introduces physical aspects of the ocean including both descriptive representations of ocean properties and dynamical processes that govern ocean circulation. Topics include measurement methods, the equation of state, the equations of motion, geostrophy, atmospheric forcing, Ekman transport, gyre circulation, western boundary currents, the global circulation, and surface gravity waves.

Credits

5

OCEA101 The Marine Environment

An introduction to the marine environment stressing the interaction of physical, chemical, geological, and biological factors in the ocean. Provides the oceanographic background needed for studies in marine biology. Students taking the prerequisite math courses concurrently may enroll in the course with permission from instructor.

Credits

5

OCEA102 Oceans and Climate: Past, Present, and Future

An introduction to Earth's environment, particularly its oceanic and climatic components. Emphasizes interactions between chemical, physical, biological, and geological processes, and fundamentals of past, present, and future global environmental change. Provides backgrounds for specialized courses in oceanic or climatic change.

Credits

5

OCEA111 Climate Dynamics

Applies fundamental physical principles to the atmosphere, cryosphere, and land surface to interpret their observed properties. Interactions between the different components of the climate system, and their role in shaping Earth's climate, are also examined.

Credits

5

OCEA118 Marine Microbial Ecology

The study of marine bacteria and their role in the marine ecosystem. Emphasis on biochemistry and physiology in relation to metabolic activity and elemental cycles, trophic interactions, and flows of material and energy in marine food webs. Students cannot receive credit for this course and Ocean Sciences 218.

Credits

5

OCEA120 Aquatic Chemistry: Principles and Applications

An integrated study of the chemical behavior of natural waters with an emphasis on both principles and applications. Topics include chemical equilibrium, kinetics, acids/bases, oxidation/reduction, complexation, solid dissolution and precipitation, and reactions on solid surfaces.

Credits

5

OCEA121 Aqueous Geochemistry

Explores the geochemistry of the water-solid interface in the environment. Topics include: the composition of natural particles in the environment; the use of chemical equilibria and kinetics to assess the reactivity at the particle-water interface; and applications to environmental and oceanographic problems.

Credits

5

OCEA122 Chemical Oceanography

Provides a chemical description of the sea. Emphasizes the chemical interactions of the ocean with the biosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere. Topics include biochemical cycles and the use of chemical tracers to study oceanic and coastal processes. Students may not receive credit for this course and OCEA 220.

Credits

5

OCEA124 Aquatic Organic Geochemistry

Introduction to organic geochemistry with emphasis on aquatic environments. Explores how non-living organic matter shapes biogeochemical cycles by carrying and sequestering reduced carbon and major nutrients and examines influence of chemical structure and environmental factors on transport and fate of organic molecules. Provides an introduction to organic biomarkers. Students cannot receive credit for this course and course 224.

Credits

5

OCEA130 Biological Oceanography

Biological description of the sea, with emphasis on processes and patterns. Topics include microbial dynamics, phytoplankton and zooplankton production, and ecology of marine food webs. Emphasis placed on understanding how physical, chemical, and geological environment shapes biology and ecology of oceans, including such topics as harmful algal blooms, global estimates of productivity, and effects of humans on environment. Students may not receive credit for this course and Ocean Sciences 230.

Credits

5

OCEA158 The Ecology and Conservation of Marine Birds and Mammals

The systematics, physiology, ecology, behavior, and conservation of marine birds and mammals, with emphasis on the fauna and issues of the Monterey Bay area. Lectures are complemented by laboratory and field sessions. Lab topics include taxonomy and comparative morphology. Field exercises are designed to promote development of observation and identification skills. Field trips enable students to observe unique local species in their native habitats and learn current research techniques.

Credits

5

OCEA199 Tutorial

Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Credits

5

OCEA200 Physical Oceanography

Introduces the physics of the ocean. Topics include physical properties of seawater, atmospheric forcing, Ekman dynamics, Sverdrup dynamics, the wind-driven ocean circulation, ocean mixing, water masses, the meridional overturning circulation, surface gravity waves, Rossby waves, Kelvin waves, and ocean tides. Designed for beginning graduate students in ocean sciences and upper-division science majors. Calculus and physics recommended as preparation.

Credits

5

OCEA211 Climate Dynamics

Introduction to the dynamics of the Earth climate system. Topics: climate system components, the global energy balance, radiative transfer, the hydrological cycle, general circulations of the atmosphere and ocean, El Nino, the North Atlantic Oscillation, and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.

Credits

5

OCEA213 Biogeochemical Cycles

Overview of biogeochemical cycles, present and past, and geochemical models. Topics include: marine, terrestrial, and global views of the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, sulfur, and oxygen cycles, and the evolution of these cycles and Earth's redox balance through geologic time.

Credits

5

OCEA215 Predicting the Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate

Introduction to the theory and practice of operational prediction in meteorology, oceanography, and climate. Topics: observations and estimation theory, dynamic adjustment and initialization, estimation theory, data assimilation, forecast verification, predictability, ocean state estimation, seasonal forecasting.

Credits

5

OCEA218 Marine Microbial Ecology

Recent developments in the study of marine bacteria and their role in the marine ecosystem. Emphasis on biochemistry and physiology in relation to metabolic activity and elemental cycles, trophic interactions and flows of material and energy in marine food webs. Exams and research paper required. Students cannot receive credit for this course and course 118 and Biology 171. Biology 20C and Chemistry 1C recommended.

Credits

5

OCEA220 Chemical Oceanography

A chemical description of the sea; emphasis on the chemical interactions of the oceans with the biosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere. Topics include biogeochemical cycles and the use of chemical tracers to study oceanic and coastal processes. Course designed for graduate students; available to upper-division science majors. Students may not receive credit for this course and OCEA 122.

Credits

5

OCEA224 Aquatic Organic Geochemistry

Introduction to organic geochemistry with emphasis on aquatic environments. Explores how non-living organic matter shapes biogeochemical cycles by carrying and sequestering reduced carbon and major nutrients and examines influence of chemical structure and environmental factors on transport and fate of organic molecules. Provides an introduction to organic biomarkers. Students cannot receive credit for this course and course 124.

Credits

5

OCEA230 Biological Oceanography

Biological description of the sea, with emphasis on processes and patterns. Topics include microbial dynamics, phytoplankton and zooplankton production, and ecology of marine food webs. Emphasis placed on understanding how physical, chemical, and geological environment shapes biology and ecology of oceans, including such topics as harmful algal blooms, global estimates of productivity, and effects of humans on environment. Students may not receive credit for this course and course 130.

Credits

5

OCEA241 Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems

Covers physical-biogeochemical interactions in the ocean on marine ecosystems, with a special focus on the California Current region. Lectures introduce fundamental processes occurring at local, regional, and basin scales, and describe their complex interplay.

Credits

5

OCEA260 Introductory Data Analysis in the Ocean and Earth Sciences

Introduces data analysis methods regularly encountered within the ocean and earth sciences. Topics include: error propagation, least squares analysis, data interpolation methods, empirical orthogonal functions, and Monte Carlo methods applied to problems drawn from oceanographic and earth sciences datasets. Introduces and uses a high-level computing and visualization package, MATLAB. Student project consists of analysis of the student's own dataset.

Credits

5

OCEA280 Marine Geology

Geology of the marine environment. Topics include controls on the types, origin, and distribution of marine sediments; geology of oceanic crust; evolution of continental margins and plate boundaries; and introduction to paleoceanography. Students cannot receive credit for this course and Earth Sciences 102.

Credits

5

OCEA285 Past Climate Change

Reviews the fundamentals of climate dynamics and explores how Earth's environment is a product of the interaction of its components. Uses examples of climate change from historical and geologic records, and from predictions of the future. Recommended for junior, senior, and graduate students in the sciences.

Credits

5

OCEA286 Introduction to Ocean Modeling

Fundamental concepts and ideas that underpin numerical modeling of the ocean. Topics include numerical methods and solutions of partial differential equations (PDEs), ocean circulation, wave dynamics, ocean ecosystem model, and MATLAB programming.

Credits

5

OCEA290A Topics in Chemical Oceanography

A weekly seminar series covering recent developments in chemical oceanography. Different topics and approaches will be stressed from year to year.

Credits

5

OCEA290B Topics in Biological Oceanography

Explores different problems of special interest in biological oceanography. Different topics and approaches will be stressed from year to year.

Credits

5

OCEA290C Topics in Marine Geochemistry

Selected topics in geochemistry. Discussion of theoretical models, different approaches, and recent research. Topics vary from year to year.

Credits

5

OCEA290D Topics in Marine Microbiology

A weekly seminar series covering topics in environmental microbiology. Topics vary from year to year, and will include research in ecology, methodology, biochemistry and physiology of bacteria. Emphasis on the role of bacteria in biogeochemical cycling from microzone to global scales, with particular focus in marine systems.

Credits

5

OCEA290E Topics in Climatic and Oceanic Change

Weekly seminar series covering recent developments in climatic and oceanic change. Different topics and approaches stressed from year to year. Prerequisite(s): interview with instructor prior to first class meeting.

Credits

5

OCEA290G Topics in Physical Oceanography

Weekly seminar series covering topics in physical oceanography as well as biological-physical interactions in the oceans. Different topics and approaches stressed from year to year.

Credits

5

OCEA290H Topics in Ocean Optics

Examines recent developments and application of bio-optics to the marine environment, including theory, instrumentation, and remote sensing. Different topics and approaches emphasized from year to year.

Credits

5

OCEA290J Topics in Marine Organic Geochemistry

Examines recent developments in uses of organic geochemistry to trace oceanographic and biogeochemical processes. Focuses on introduction to organic biomarkers, current literature, and evolving applications. Different topics and approaches emphasized from year to year.

Credits

5

OCEA292 Seminar

Weekly seminar on various topics attended by faculty, graduate, and upper-division undergraduate students.

Credits

0

OCEA296 Teaching in Ocean Sciences

For new and/or relatively inexperienced graduate students in pedagogy of ocean sciences. Role and responsibilities of teaching in ocean sciences described and developed. Includes discussions about effective teaching methods; hands-on issues for work in the laboratory; university expectations; and regulations regarding teaching, organizational strategies, time management, and working with instructors and staff.

Credits

2

OCEA297A Independent Study

Independent reading, research, and written reports not related to thesis research. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Credits

5

OCEA297B Independent Study

Independent reading, research, and written reports not related to thesis research. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Credits

10

OCEA297C Independent Study

Independent reading, research, and written reports not related to thesis research. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Credits

15

OCEA299A Thesis Research

Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Credits

5

OCEA299B Thesis Research

Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Credits

10

OCEA299C Thesis Research

Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Credits

15